Guess what we're bringing home from Guatemala?

Isabella Claire is packing it up and headed to the U.S. tomorrow. She will land in Houston tomorrow afternoon and then onto her home state of Louisiana!!!!!!! See y'all then....

VICTORY!!!!!

Bella LOVES to play Pee Pie!

Playing Pee Pie with Daddy!

Playing drums on the table with Daddy!

"I let my Daddy pick me up!"

"I got ya, Daddy!"

"Daddy's gonna get you, Bella!
"Daddy got ya, Bella!"

"You can't get me, Daddy!"

"Uh Oh, Daddy, you got me (and I LOVE it)!"

"It really is FUN to play with my Daddy!"

Well, as you can see, we had major VICTORY today! Thanks for all the prayers! She let Jeff feed her today and she willingly gave him kisses (even solicited them!), and reached out to him for him to hold her before I put her to bed! She is on her way to becoming Daddy's little girl! :)

More Cuteness...

Her favorite toy is a plastic feeding spoon! That will make Christmas easy!! LOL :) (I was talking to Jeff through clenced teeth in this picture... she was pulling my hair in the back with her other hand. She is a major hair puller.) She took 2 steps by herself from the end table to the coffee table. I have not doubt she will be walking within the month! That is, if I can find it in me to actually put her down.

She found the tissue in the diaper bag and had her own party!!

She was having a good ole time.... until she began eating it and I took it away. The next picture shows what she thinks of me doing that and redirecting her.

"Hey, I was having FUN over there!"

Just plain ole sweetness!!!!

The beginning of our day.

This is what happens when she realizes Jeff is in the room!

This is what happens when Jeff doesn't disappear!

She did GREAT last night! She slept (in her crib) from 8:00 until 3:30. She woke up for a bottle and diaper change and went back to sleep until 7:15! As soon as her eyes opened, she was all smiles, ready for her breakfast.... until... she realized Jeff was laying next to her in the bed while she ate. It was downhill after that. Continue to pray!!!!

We are off to eat breakfast and then do a little shopping. I will take more pictures today and post later. Have a great Saturday!

Embassy Day!

We had our embassy appointment this morning. We were there for 3 hours and she was a dream baby! The only time she fussed was if Jeff looked at her, tried to talk to her, or got in her personal space. Which by the way, her idea of her personal space is MUCH larger than the average persons! :) Jeff had to sleep on the couch because I put her in the bed with us and every time she would roll over and see him, she would start to scream. I felt bad, but I needed to sleep no matter the cost to him! LOL The night before we left, I only got 1 1/2 hours of sleep. It was a very spontaneous trip! I KNOW we had the favor of God in this step! Tonight I got a crib and she is sleeping like an angel in it and Jeff will get to sleep in the bed! :) He is very excited!!!

I can honestly say that as I walked away from the last window, I felt like my old self instantly! It was as though I left the weight of this adoption at that window. I know many people have said that it was non-eventful and unemotional for them, but for me it was very emotional. I did not cry, but my eyes teared up and my heart was light. "Thank you Father for bringing us through this and to the promise you had for our family. Thank you for giving us strength during those difficult times and for carrying us when we were too weak to walk the path you set us on. Thank you for our little miracle. She is perfection!"

Now, attachment... she is doing great with me. She has excellent eye contact, smiles at me often, is very playful and LOVES to give me kisses!!! She is a good eater, too. All along I have suspected that she may have a milk-protein intolerance. However, because she was in the hogar, I was unable to have her formula changed. I took the advice of my friend, Stephanie, and started her on Nutramigen to see if I noticed a difference. I can say that my suspicions seem to have been correct! There are quite noticeable differences. It seems to be healing her digestive tract and we will continue her on it for the next few weeks and then slowly introduce her to soy products. She is not a picky eater, either. She will eat anything I give her.

She is sleeping much better than she did on all of my other visits. She only woke up once in the night for a diaper change. Tomorrow we will try to go the the artisian market and get a few things to bring back.

"Jake, we miss you like CRAZY!!!! I cannot wait for you to hold your baby sister!!! Only a few more days. I will be ready for you to run into my arms.... I need your hugs and kisses. I love you to infinity and more....."

Now, here are a few pics of her in her embassy outfit.... I will do a better job of taking more pictures this weekend. Now, that we are done, it will be less stressful and more enjoyable... so keep on stopping by! And please, pray for her to begin to turn her heart toward Jeff. I know it will get better and time will help, but I also know how badly he wants to love on her and play with her and can't. It is hurting my heart for him. Thanks!

Presenting..... Bella with Mommy and Daddy FOREVER!!!!!!!!

We are here!!! Sorry, I did not have time to post sooner. She is PERFECT!!! When we got to the hogar, she was asleep, and they woke her up and handed her to me. Needless to say, she was not happy! She whined and whimpered off and on there. She would not make eye contact with me there or on the car ride to the hotel. When we got to our room, I fixed her a bottle and held her so that she was facing me, while I fed her. At first, she was avoiding looking at me and then our eyes locked and it was as though she had a memory trigger.

You see, back in October last year, we first visited her and she was only 1 month old (turned on month old the day we left). Everyone that saw us commented on how intently she looked at me. They said it was as though she was "memorizing me". Well, I think they were correct, because I saw that light come on and her whole demeanor towards me began to change. The way I was feeding her, is the way I have fed her everytime I visited! Isn't God good?!

After that, we took and bath and played in the tub. She started looking up at me and puckering her lips to kiss me. Then she just smiled. She did that all night long until she finally fell asleep in my arms! Now, she will NOT let Jeff in her space. He can look at her, but not for too long! I think this may be because she is not used to being around men in the hogar. I feel sure that she will be better with him tomorrow. She ended the night with her "talking" to him, but he was not allowed to respond! :)

Now, here is what you have been waiting for.....

Guatemala or Bust....

Can you say PINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yep, we have an appointment for ........ FRIDAY!!!! Yes, the answer to the question you are asking yourself (and me) is THIS Friday!!!! We leave for Guatemala Thursday morning, appointment Friday and home to the US Tuesday. One week from tonight, I will be boarding a plane in Houston to come home with my daughter!!!!!!!!! I need to go back and look to see who was closest and notify the winner of my guessing game!


I won't post again until Thursday afternoon when we have Bella FOREVER!!!!!!!


Thank you Heavenly Father for this miracle and thank you to all of our family and friends and friends I have made in blog land. Your prayer, support and encouragement helped get us to this point. Have a good night and check back Thursday!!